Play Analysis †“Shakuntala” by Kalidasa Essay

A report card of gods, nymphs, ancient Indian mythology, spells and esteem, the amatory seeded playerdy Shakuntala by Kalidasa is a timeless classic. Similar plots be notwithstanding being used in track downs, TV shows and movies today, over two gee years later man falls in fare with girl, something happens that doesnt stick out them to be unneurotic, an early(a) event happens that allows them to be together with a quick-witted close. Shakuntala tells the story of the suspensor, King Dushyanta, falling for a young woman named Shakuntala. Their love brings us on a expedition that makes us laugh, cry weeping of mirth and sorrow, and even blows us away by some of the ravishing imagery/poetry.The play com manpowerces with King Dushyanta on a hunt, then decision himself in the presence of three women at an ashrama (sacred place). One of these women is Shakuntala, whom Dushyanta falls outright in love with. Their mutual attraction eventually blossoms into a accost, prov ided one day as Dushyanta is away, a hermit puts a aver on Shakuntala. She was in addition distracted by thoughts of Dushyanta to receive him as a guest, and so he cursed whoever/whatever she was thinking of. The curse caused Dushyanta bar all about Shakuntala. However, the hermit had a slight motley of heart. Because Shakuntala was too busy thinking of Dushyanta, the hermit told her friends that if Dushyanta were presented with a meaningful object representing his kind with Shakuntala, he would regain his memory of her. Unfortunately, as Shakuntala greeted Dushyanta once much, she discovered that he did not remember her.She remembered that he had given her a ring piece of music they were together, but as she looked down to give it to him she realized it had slipped off her thumb, believably while she was in the Ganges River. Shakuntala was then interpreted away by an invisible nymph up into the sky. Later on, a fisherman (who was taken pri newser for thievery) returned to the king the ring he had found and stolen from the Ganges. The king short remembered everything about Shakuntala. He returned to the ashrama to discover that he now had a son born from Shakuntala. The climax is reached as Dushyanta and Shakuntala meet eyes once more with a powerful connection. They fall back in love with each other and are blessed with eternal happiness by Maricha the perfect. This story starts us off with the confrontation between Dushyanta and Shakuntala, then brings us to a moment of choice when Dushyanta is greeted by the appearingly unknown Shakuntala, andconcludes with the lovers being reunited.Dushyanta and Shakuntala are the main characters of the play, but even though the play is named Shakuntala, one believes that the protagonist is in fact Dushyanta. He is represented as a literal king, all around nice man, longing for love. When he sees Shakuntala he is not thirsty with lust, but simply a gentleman interested in pursuing a healthy relationship. Howeve r, we see that when he is king (when Shakuntala arrives at his palace) he is ruling, just and powerful. Shakuntala is a young, beautiful, innocent woman, but she is also cagy and pessimistic. At first of all hatful of Dushyanta she stands guard of her emotions. At second sight she immediately presumes that its not going to turn out right (p. 49). end-to-end the play, the majority of lines are spoken in prose, not rime. On the other hand, there are several times when a poem or lyric (written by Kalidasa himself) is said by one of the characters, which makes the play seem more poetic and rhythmic. On top of that, most of the voices offstage let the cat out of the bag in verse. One believes that the designer didnt want to escape the tradition of verse (ie. Ancient greek tragedies), but also wanted his own stoop on the form of the style.The theme is difficult for one to put his finger on. One theme is the struggle for one man (Dushyanta) to achieve the love of a woman, but his s truggle is in vain as another(prenominal) man (the hermit Durvasas) takes the thoughts from that same woman. Even though it is not a situation where another man steals a womans heart, one believes that perhaps the author wanted to portray the piggery of men and how the competition between men is to be everlasting. Another theme could be that of love at first sight and how it is not only true but a sort out of life. Either way, the main theme is of troubled, confusing, powerful love and how it can be achieved by two people, even in the most delicate of situations (i.e. A king who has lost his memory and the emotionally sensitive daughter of a nymph).This play is a romantic comedy, and the tone does justice to that genre. There is the romance between the two main characters, and the comedy whichis brought out in their situation, their language and the Jester character. Like every romantic comedy today, there is the fatal dip in the plot which arouses different emotions in its audien ce (i.e. sadness, anger, confusion). Overall, however, the ending is a happy one, making this play an absolute delight to read.throughout the play, the audiences response to each action takes them on an emotional hair curlercoaster. We are swayed to the kings situation as he pursues love and romance, and soon we are abruptly changed to Shakuntalas view as she is left alone and in despair. The ups, downs, twist and turns we are taken on as the play shifts from comedy, to romance, and to tragedy, leaves the audience with a meaning-experience although the ride may be scary, by the end youre in love and willing to do it all over again.This plays theatricality calls for three separate sets the forest of the ashrama, the palace, and the scenes in front of the curtain. The ashrama should look welcoming, friendly, warm-spirited and nice. In contrast, one believes the palace should be large, frighten and cold. The scenes in front of the curtain (where Anasuya and Priyamvada pick flowers ) need only to ware a few greens that symbolize a field, one in which the two friends can explore.This play already has some similar traits to todays movies. For example, insomniac in Seattle, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, brings us on the journey of two people who are on opposite sides of the country. They know that theyre in love but can never seem to get together because of their location and also their situation (Meg Ryans character has a fiance). But by the end of the film the lovers are united atop the Empire take Building (reminiscent of An Affair to Remember) in what is, inarguably, one of the most romantic scenes captured on film to date.This type of plot has been used more than often in the past few years, so bringing this play into the modern human beings has already been proven as a success. If one were to make an need remake of this play with a modern twist, one would only change around a couple things instead of being a king, Dushyanta could be a member of parl iament, possibly a mayor. Also, Shakuntala could be, instead of thedaughter of a nymph and a sage, that of a normal catholic family.Shakuntala is a rehearsal that takes the audience on a meaning-experience journey akin to a roller coaster ride. The ups and downs and twists and turns excel even the gods. It is well deserving of its renown, as is a play that is capable of touching the hearts of any person who has experienced the challenges and rewards that come hand in hand with love.BibliographyShakuntala by Kalidasa